Do you know what my greatest discovery is?
It's that if something itches and you can't reach it, that is the greatest torture!
Kazu, out.
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This has to be the world that Dad-Father-Dude created. He is referring to the souls experiencing the world he created. A world that seems chaotic, random, and unfinished. A world where I have been stuck for far too long.
I gave him a 1-star review for his shitty creation. He deserves nothing more than that.
As I've been stuck for far too long, I made a discovery that changed everything. I had no idea what was going on or why I was here. I had no hope of ever getting out. But then I found out something that made me question everything.
For instance, when I bite my tongue and it bleeds excessively, it was gone when I awoke. No, not my tongue, you silly - the wound had healed. More precisely, it appeared as if nothing had happened at all: this discovery took me by surprise!
It couldn't be, right?
Is it "regeneration" or "resurrection"? Am I immortal?
Does that mean I'll never die…
I can feel my face become frigid. I'm in deep shit! Being trapped in this place for all eternity…sounds like hell.
No. No. No. Shit… I thought I'd mastered the art of remaining calm. But if I'm going to be here forever…stuck here forever.
This disturbed me so much!
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You know what, I'll stop worrying about what will happen to me in the future; whether I'll be here forever or not is irrelevant. But that seems so depressing! I'll be here forever…Hmmmmp.
I will try to be optimistic!
Let's see: Right?
Forever cannot exist forever…Well, that does not sound right.
Anyway - something can appear forever, yet it always changes gradually.
Exactly! Nothing remains constant; everything changes.
Like metal: It will corrode and cease to be metal.
Or…styrofoam (it will decay eventually, but only after 500 years).
Holy shit! Am I going to be trapped here for the millennia?
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I made an agreement with myself: Nothing good will happen to me if I continue to think about the future.
Unless I can get out of this, it's pointless to think about the future.
So…I will live my life moment by moment.
Well, I wonder if this can be called a life. Ha. Ha.
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My sense of hearing had become very good. I could hear the water droplets:
"Dam da dum dum", "Da dum dum dum", …
…
They got a symphony.
◇
Moments after moments passed.
I continue living my life, appreciating what I have.
This is how I live my life!
It's not so bad, living moment by moment. I had no idea that contentment could be obtained in this manner too.
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"Tang! Tang! Tang!"
I heard something.
It was very far away. It would occasionally sound.
I continued to hear it for a very long time.
But it was getting closer.
◇
When the sound reached me, it was overwhelming.
TANG!
I felt a vibration all around me, and it made my ears ring.
However, by then, I was already on the verge of fainting.
◇
I could hear voices.
People?
First, I'll listen.
"…been buried… edge. Kol found it," a man's voice said.
"What is it, father?" a boy's voice asked.
"No, take it back. You know how dangerous a relic from the past may be," the man said.
Oy, oy, wait. Don't bring me back.
"Wait!" I immediately blurted out.
"Who?" the man said. He seemed to be terrified. "Kol, you packed your belongings. Leave anything you don't need behind," he said.
"Um, yes… father," the boy said.
"Oy! Oy! Wait! I'm not a bad guy," I added.
They start running faster right away. I hear their frantic footsteps and the clatter of objects falling behind them.
They're gone.
Sigh… I scared them out of their wits.
I'm out. But I'm still stuck.
As I suspected, I am indeed buried beneath the ground. Something is surrounding me like a hard shell. When I tap it with my finger, it makes no sound.
However, I can breathe different air.
Did they make a hole when they dug me out?
Smells like forever is ending, I think. I feel like crying.
I would have gone mad if I didn't live my life in every moment. I guess I'll keep living my life this way; I'm getting used to it.
◇
I made a wise decision.
Who knew Forever had a sequel? If this is a television drama, the title will be "Forever and Ever Again (Remake)".
Who the heck is not satisfied with the word forever?
But this time I'm able to smell. This isn't too bad. Almost every day, I was exposed to new sounds. And I didn't pass out from a lack of oxygen.
Though, I still suffer from thirst and hunger. The hunger pangs are like sharp teeth biting into my stomach.
I recall losing my hearing before. I didn't fight it; I just accepted it. Maybe I can do the same with the hunger pangs.
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It feels like the days have become longer, possibly because I no longer die in a matter of hours.
This is how I continue to live. It's freezing cold, and occasionally scorching hot.
I occasionally hear crickets and insects serenading me.
I feel like I'm on vacation.
This is life, just chillin'.
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One time, I heard something nearby.
It sounds like someone walking, yet there must be a lot of feet making that sound, like a herd of animals migrating across the land.
Life was already flourishing in this world before I noticed it. I may be immortal, but I have no knowledge about the world.
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Then I made the first contact.
Someone is saying something.
Pardon? Louder please… I strain my ears to catch the words.
This time, I'm not going to blurt out anything.
"… thank you on behalf of my people. For good harvest and protection," a woman's voice says softly.
She appears to be praying. After that, I'm not sure what she says; it sounds like a chant or singing. Perhaps it is meaningless. But it sounds beautiful and soothing to me.
She leaves before I snap out of it. I'm too captivated by her singing.
Anyway, she'll probably come back.
To think that someone will pray to me. Am I some sort of a god now? When did I ascend?
If this is how being a god feels. I quit.
Where can I hand in my resignation?
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They came on a regular basis.
It was a different voice each time, but I occasionally recognized a familiar voice; they might be taking turns.
I continued to observe because I wanted to get a sense of what was happening first. Even if I made a mistake, at least I had some information.
Then I heard what sounded like a desperate prayer.
"Oh, Rowa! The god of harvest and protection. Please provide us with your protection. A Visor is on its way to our village," a woman's voice says with fear and urgency. "Please! Grant us your protection," another voice says with hope and reverence.
Protection? How?
If I can't… What would they do to me?